Door lock



Sept; 29, 1942. w. R. SCHLAGE pooR LOCK- File d June 25, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 1 filN ENTOR.

Patented Sept. 29, 1942 UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE DOOR LOCK WalterIt. Schlage, Bnrlingame, Calif asaignor to Schlage Lock Company, SanFrancisco, Calif, a corporation of California Application June 23, 1941,Serial No. 399,298

7 Claims. (Cl-1M3?) This invention relates to door locks and especiallyto improvements in the constmction of the type of lock shown in myformer patent, No. 1,751,101, entitled Door lock, issued March t8, 1930.

The" object of the present invention is generally to improve andsimplify the construction and operation of door locks of the characterdescribed; to provide a lock structure in which the greater number ofparts may be made from light gauge metal and only the parts subjected towear and stress from heavier metal: to provide bearings of increasedarea for the knob spindles and the rollback members carried thereby; tomake one of said bearings detachable; to reduce the weight and simplifythe construction of the retractor guide; to reinforce the retractorguide by placing combination thrust and wearing plates on opposite sidesthereof so as to take up spindle end thrust and wear produced by theretractor; to secure detachably said combination thrust and wear plateswith relation to the retractor guide; and further, to secure said platesby an enclosing housing.

The structural improvements are shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Fig. l is a horizontal section of a door showing the door lockinstalled;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the lock installed in a door;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on line III- -III ofFig. 2, said view showing the latch bolt unit in full lines;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the retractor I guide;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the outer spindle bearing;

Figs. 6 and '7 are perspective views of the reinforcing plates employedin conjunction with the retractor guide; v

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the door knob spindles;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the retractor;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the outer escutcheon plate;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the housing enclosing the latch boltactuating mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the clamping plate;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the inner escutcheon plate;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the latch bolt unit; and

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the retractor guide, the outer spindlebearing and the reinforcignugdplates assembled and applied to theretractor e. Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly toFigs. 1 to 3, A indicates in general a latch bolt actuating unit and B alatch bolt unit. These units are adapted to be separately installed in adoor and each contains a complete self-contained mechanism. The latchbolt actuating unit is installed transversely of a door, while the latchbolt unit B is installed endwise of the door or, in other words, atright angles to the latch bolt actuating unit. The respective housingsare cylindrical in cross section, and in order to prepare a door, it isonly necessary to bore a pair of holes as indicated at 2 and I with anordinary brace and bit, the hole 2 being provided for the reception ofthe housing or unit A, and the hole 3 for the housing or unit .8. Theunit B is secured by screws which pas through a face plate forming a artof the latch bolt unit B, as will hereinafter be described, while thelatch bolt actuating unit A is secured by means of a clamping plate 5|,as'will hereinafter be described.

The latch bolt actuating unit contains the structural improvementsforming the subject matter of this application and these improvementsare best illustrated in Figs. 1 to 11 inclusive. It consists of ahousing A (see Fig. 11) one end of which is flanged as at l and open,while the other end is closed by an end section 5 which is provided withan integral bearing extension 6. The housing is cylindrical or cupshapedas shown. 'The end 5 is provided with four elongated slots 1 and twocircular perforations 8, while the side of the housing is cut out as at8 to form a pair of parallel retaining flanges llil0 the purpose ofwhich will hereinafter be described.

Adapted to be received and secured within the housing A is a retractorguide (see Fig. 4) This consists of an end plate II in which is formed arecess l2 and an opening l3. Formed integral with the end plate is a topplate II and a bottom plate l5 and formed on the free edges of saidplates are lugs lS-li which are adapted to extend through the slots I ofhousing A as will hereinafter be described. Two right angular bent lugsI'|l| are provided on one or both of the plates to form spring seats andshoulders "-48 are formed between said lugs and the end plate H toreceive and retain one end I! of a plate 20 (see Fig. 6). Notches 2! areformed at the opposite ends of the plates and these serve to receive andretain a pair of cars 22 formed on plate 2|.

The plate 20 serves three functions: first, that of reinforcing the endplate ll of the retractor guide; second, that or a thrust and wearabsorbing plate; and third, that of a retainer for a bearing membergenerally indicated at 23 (see Fig. One end of this member is flanged asat 24, and opposite sides of .the flange are cut away as at 25 to permitthe bearing to be inserted between the top and bottom plates l4 and I5and to extend through the opening I! in the end plate ll. When soinserted the flange 24 will seat in the recess l2 of the end plate I I,and the flat sides 25 of the flange will engage the inner faces of thetop and bottom plates and secure the bearing against rotation and thebearing will be secured against endwise removal when the plate 20 isinserted. Y

A second thrust and wear absorbing plate 26 (see Fig. 7 is applied andsecured to the retractor guide shown in Fig. 4. This plate has two pairsof lugs 21-21 and 2828. The lugs 28 are drilled and tapped as indicatedat 29 to receive a pair of clamping screws 30-30 (see Fig. 2). Recesses3| are formed on opposite sidesof the lugs 21 to receive the arms l6a ofthe lugs l6 and the lugs which may be said to be L shaped willaccordingly overlie shouldersections 32 formed at the inner ends and onopposite sides of the lugs 28.

The two plates 20 and 26 are disposed on op-. posite sides of theretractor guide and they form guides between which a retractor, such asshown in Fig. 9 is slidably mounted. The plate 26 is provided with acentral opening 33 and a similar opening 34 is formed in the plate 20.These openings are provided to permit insertion of a pair of opposedspindles 35 and 36. The spindles are identical one of them being shownin perspective in Fig. 8. Each spindle has a rollback member 31, formedon its inner end. They are preferably of tubular form and each carries adoor when so inserted. spindle 36 will pass through the bearing 6 whilethe lugs l6 will pass through the slots 1 formed in the end 5 of housingA and the unit will there be secured by passinga pair of cotter pinsthrough opposite lugs I 6 which are perforated as at |6b for theirreception.

The assembly of the latch bolt actuating unit is completed by applyingan outer escutcheon plate 50, a clamping plate 5|, a pair of clampingscrews 30, an inner escutcheon plate 52, and the respective door knobsshown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The present invention is directed to the construction, function andassembly of the latch bolt actuating mechanism. The latch bolt unit has,nevertheless, been illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 14, as it renders thedescription of the lock mechanism as a whole more readilyunderstandable.

In installing the lock in a door, the latch bolt unit B is firstinserted through the opening formed in the edge of the door, as shown inFig. 3. The latch bolt has a bar attached to it known as the retractorbar. The inner end of this bar is provided with two laterally extendinglugs 54, which project through the inner end of the housing and into thetransverse opening formed in the door. The inner end of the housing ofthe latch boltunit is provided with a pair of hook-shaped lugs 55 whichalso project into the transverse opening in the door. After the latchbolt unit has been inserted, the latch bolt actuating unit A cannot beinserted until the inner knob, the inner escutcheon plate, the clampingplate 5|, and the clamping screws 52 have been removed. When these havebeen removed, the-housing A is inserted in the trans- I verse opening inthe direction of arrow 0 (see knob as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 which maybe secured on the spindles in any suitable manner.

The assembly and function of the lock will now be described. The bearing23 is first inserted through the opening l3 formed in the retractorguide and pushed through to a point where the shoulder engages and seatsin the recess l2 formed around the opening. The plate 20 is nextinserted and is secured when the end l9 passes in under the shoulders l8and the ears 22 enter the notches 2|. In this position the flanged endof the bearing 23 will be clamped between the end plate II and the plate20, and is thus secured against. endwise movement and at'the same timeis also secured against rotation by the flattened sides 25 engaging theinner faces of the plates l4 and I5 of the retractor guide. The spindle35 is next inserted through the bearing 23, next the springs and thenthe retractor. The plate 26 is next applied as shown in Fig. 15 bypressing it down over the lugs l6, this being possible as the plates l4and I5 together with the lugs l6 formed.

thereon will spread under downward pressure and will snap back so thatthe lugs l6 will overlie the shoulders 32 as shown in Fig. 15, andthereby retain and secure plate 26. The spindle 36 is inserted throughthe opening 33 in plate 26 with the rollback in the same position asthat on the spindle 35. The operator slightly depresses the retractorduring insertion of spindle 36 and then releases the retractor and whenso released the springs will 'force the retractor outwardly intoengagement with the rollbacks on the respective spindles and as suchwill retain the spindles. The

unit will now be inserted in the housing A and Fig. 1) and, when thusinserted, the flange 4 and the outer escutcheon plate secured theretowill engage the outer face of the door. Also during the insertion of thelatch bolt actuating unit, the flanges l0l0 formed by the cutawayportion 9 of the housing A will ride over the hookshaped lugs 55 formedon the inner end of the housing B, and the two housings will thus beinterlocked. The retractor shown in Figs. 9 and 3 has a pair ofhook-shaped jaws 56 formed at the forward end, and these jaws will rideoverthe lugs 54 formed on the inner end of the retractor bar. Thus thetwo housings are interlocked by means of the flanges I 0-| 0 and thehooks 55, while the mechanism is interlocked by the jaws 56 and the lugs55.

The clamping plate is next applied to the inner face of the door. Thescrews 30 are passed through the holes formed in the plate, and then, asthese align with the threaded openings 29 formed in the lugs 28 of theplate 26, there will be a threaded engagement and the screws will betightened until the clamping plate firmly engages the inner face of thedoor and the flange 4 the outer face of the door. The inner escutcheonplate may then be applied and so may the inner knob, and then, byfinally applying screws 51 to the face plate of the latch bolt unit,-the installation will be complete.

The main changes in the present structure when comparison is made withthe structure shown in my former patent, No. 1,751,101, is that theretractor guide is secured to the housing A and that the retractor guideis provided with two plates 20 and 26 which reinforce and strengthen theretractor guide, and in addition thereto take up all thrusts and wearapplied thereto by the knob spindles and the retractor. Furthermore, byemploying the plate 20 it becomes possible to apply a spindle bearing tothe retractor guide and to secure it by means of said plate. In additionto the above, it becomes possible to simplify the construction of mostof the parts forming the lock mechanism and to make them fromcomparatively light gauge steel. This also simplifles die constructionand increases the life of the dies. The only parts which require aheavier gauge metal are the plates 20 and 26 and as these are flat andof simple design, dies 01' the blanking type may be employed. The platesIll and 26 are rounded at opposite ends and snugly lit the interior ofthe housing A, thus rigidly supporting the retractor guide within thehousing: also as plate 26 is tapped as at 29 to receive the clampingscrews, the retractor guide and the reinforcing plates will be rigidlyclamped against the closed end 5 of the housing.

Having thus described and illustrated my invention, what I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a lock of the character described, a retractor guide comprisinganend plate, a top and a bottom plate formed integral therewith and bentat right angles thereto, said end plate having an opening formedtherein, a bearing sleeve adapted to extend through said opening, arecess formed in the plate around the opening, a flange on the bearingsleeve adapted to seat in said recess, and removable means carried bythe tractor guide comprising an end plate, a top and a bottom plateformed integral therewith and bent at right angles thereto, an elongatedwear and thrust absorbing plate insertable endwise between the top andbottom plates, means for retaining said insertable plate in engagementwith the inner face of the end plate, asecond wear and thrust absorbingplate, and means for detachably securing said plate to the tree edges ofthe top and bottom plates. I

5. In a lock of the character described, a retractor guide comprising anend plate, a top retractor guide engageable with the flanged end of thebearing sleeve to secure the bearing sleeve against removal.

2. In a lock of the character described, a retractor guide comprising anend plate, a top and bottom plate formed integral therewith and bent atright angles thereto, said end plate having an opening formed therein, abearing sleeve adapted to extend through said opening, a recess formedin the plate around the opening, a flange on the bearing sleeve adaptedto seat in said recess, a plate insertable endwise between the top andbottom plates, and means maintaining said'plate in engagement with theinner face of the end plate to secure the bearing sleeve againstremoval. i

3. In a lock of the character described, a retractor guide comprising anend plate, a top and a bottom plate formed integral therewith and bentat right angles thereto, said end plate having an opening formedtherein, a bearing sleeve adapted to extend through said opening, arecess formed in the plate around the opening, a flange on the'bearingsleeve adapted to seat in said recess, a plate insertable endwisebetween the top and bottomrplates, means maintaining said plate inengagement with the inner face of the end plate to secure the bearingsleeve against removal, and other means for securing the insertableplate against endwise removal from between the top and bottom plates.

4. In a lock of the character described, a reand a bottom plate formedintegral therewith and bent at right angles thereto, an elongated wearand thrust absorbing plate. insertable endwise 7 between the top andbottom plates, means for retaining said insertable plate inengagement'with the inner face or the end plate, a plurality of lugsformed on the free edge of the top plate and on the free edge of thebottom plate, a second wear and thrust absorbing plate, and means fordetachably, securing said plate with relation to said lugs.

6. In a lock of the character described, a retractor guide comprising anend plate, a top and a bottom plate formed integral therewith and bentat right angles thereto, said end plate presenting inner and outer facesand having an opening formed therein, a recess formed in the inner face01 the end plate around the opening, a bearing sleeve extending throughthe opening, a flange on one end of the sleeve and seating in therecess, said flange securing the bearing sleeve against rotation andalso securing the bearing sleeve against endwise removal from the endplate in an outward direction, and other means securing the bearingsleeve against endwise removal in an inward direction.

7. In a lock oi the character described, a retractor guide comprising anend plate, a top and a bottom plate formed integral therewith and bentat right angles thereto, said end plate presenting inner and outer facesand having an opening formed therein, a recess formed in the inner raceof the end plate around the opening, a bearing sleeve extending throughthe opening, a flange on one end of the sleeve and seating in therecess, said'flange securing the bearing sleeve against rotation andalso securing the bearing sleeve against endwise removal from the endplate in an outward direction, a plate insertable endwise between thetop and bottom plates and in contact with the inner face of the endplate to secure the bearing sleeve against endwise removal in an inwarddirection, a cylindrical shaped housing open at one end and closed atthe other, said retractor guide and the plate carried thereby beinginsertable in the housing, and the housing securing the plate againstremoval from the retractor guide, and means Ior securing the retractorguide within the housing.

. WALTER R. BCHLAGE.

